New police chief reassures MSP over officer numbers

Assuranced have been given to the Midlothian South MSP that policing levels in the county remain as high as they did six years ago.

Christine Grahame met with Chief Superintendent Ivor Marshall, the new Divisional Commander of the Lothians and Scottish Borders Division.

The pair had a thorough meeting to discuss the changed nature of policing with many issues being related to drugs and alcohol abuse and mental health issues.

Ms Grahame, who chaired the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee and sub-committee which scrutinised Police Scotland during the last Parliamentary term, said: “Policing has changed so much and now involves multi agencies like housing, health, social work and child protection.

“However, at the heart of successful policing is community intelligence. I would encourage my constituents to continue to assist the local police teams in making their communities safer places to live.”

Following reports about the fall in police numbers in the constituency, Ms Grahame was given assurances that police numbers remain as high across Scotland as they were in 2010.

She added: “With the now single police force this means if there is an incident in the Borders or Midlothian requiring additional officers they can be drafted in at the press of a button, which is a big improvement on the previous situation when there were eight constabularies.”